Sullla’s AI Survivor: Thrilla in Guatem-AI-La!

Season 9 Game Three!

Sullla’s AI Survivor is an annual competition of all Civilization IV AI Leaders by long-time Civilization enthusiast and streamer Sullla. CFC is very excited to announce that the popular series returns after almost a two-year hiatus with Season Nine. AI Survivor has become quite an event over the years for both old and new Civ IV fans.

Game 2 Recap (click for write-up): I’m not one for hyperbole—well, actually, I am—but Game 2 last week may have been the best single game in AI Survivor history. It was certainly one of the top-tier finishes we’ve ever seen. Not only did the match come down to the very last turn for a Spaceship Victory between Joao of Portugal and Victoria of England, but the final result hinged on a deep-layer probability factor. The early and mid-game were absolute bloodbaths; the “crazy warmonger” crew was sent to permanent naps, while a weakened Willem of the Netherlands launched a surprisingly impactful backstab against Joao. Joao managed to survive, eventually turning the tables to wipe Willem out completely with some late-game assistance from Vicky. Leveraging his massive land acquisitions, Joao grabbed a tech lead and, at one point, looked like a sure bet to reach the stars first. However, Vicky utilized the power of the Financial trait and an expertly timed Golden Age to surge ahead in the final stretch. She launched her spaceship first, forcing Joao’s hand. He did the only thing he could: frantically, he launched an unfinished ship. Because of the travel times, both ships were slated to reach the stars on the same turn. This setup typically forces a coin flip to determine the victor, but Joao’s odds were even worse due to the risk of mission failure. And then, the unthinkable happened: Joao’s ship exploded. The voyage failed, handing the English a dramatic, narrow victory.

This week, our CFC Knight of the Round Table a-pen-dragon achieved a 2nd place finish while Plains-Cow, Chik-fil-a enthusiast, holds a strong #4 position in the overall contest!

GAME 3 ON APRIL 17TH

Game 3 is shaping up to be the most balanced match of the season, featuring a perfect, volatile split between ruthless warmongers and calculating peacemongers. Leading the charge is the legendary Pacal of the Mayans—a certified “AI Survivor” powerhouse—closely shadowed by the unpredictable Suryavarman of the Khmer and a recently downgraded, yet still dangerous, Julius Caesar. They face a scrappy underclass of wildcards: Pericles of Greece, who remains a persistent dark horse capable of stealing a win under the right conditions; Qin Shi Huang of China, a resilient survivor whose traits often keep him in the game long past his expiration date; and the enigmatic Sitting Bull. While the Native American leader famously lives up to his name by doing nothing, his shocking victory last season proves that in this field, even the most passive player can seize the crown. Underestimate this group at your own peril—this match is anyone’s to lose.